Posts

Best L-E-F-T-O-V-E-R-S Ever!

EC: Cupid, Katniss, Mookie, Pikachu, ShamWow, YHC.

Lots of anticipation in this workout: Who will take Yogurt’s place as site Q? Will Yogurt be able to stop cadence? Will there be dessert with these leftovers?

Warm Up: Long way to back of Hunt Center. SSH 50x. Started off LEFTOVERS with a round of Wings: Arm circles forward and back, hold ‘em; seal claps, hold ‘em; overhead claps, hold ‘em. OK, so I always forget to stop, so lots of laughs with the various counts. I think I nailed a few at 15!

The Workout:

L-E-F-T-O-V-E-R-S

L Lt. Dan ain’t got no legs. Squat plus lunge with each leg 10x x 2

E Everest over to the wooden steps. Lunge up two steps, full squat. Rinse and repeat

F Forest to Sea. You remember this one from CSAUP 2018. Bear crawl to middle of field, crab walk to end. Run back

T Tony Hawk Burpee. Burpee with 360 spin jump to finish. I think we were all stumbling to this one 10x, rinse and repeat other direction, just like Tony

O Outlaw. Recover on this one. Same as Boxcutter, but feet together. 10x clockwise, 10x counterclockwise

V Vacuum. Wheelbarrow out 10 steps, 5 derkins, backward wheelbarrow back to line. Rinse and repeat

E Empty wheelbarrow. Crab walk with partner holding legs. Up, back, switch, rinse, repeat

R Ranger Merkins together 20x, good form

S Surfer Merkin. What? Merkin with horizonal rolling 360 between. Yes, we got dirty!

Dessert: Needed more S, so we moseyed up to road behind Hunt Center for some SPRINTS!

Sprints to next light pole. Split PAX into two waves. Rinse and repeat 3x.

Mary: 6 minutes: Standard starting position 6 inch hold. Low slow flutter, box cutters, pickle pounders, more Out;aws, end with 1 minute 6-inch hold.

Announcements:

Time to turn my site Q over to PAX who is ready. When I offered Cletus to this PAX, he jumped on it, ready to lead. This PAX joined F3 in March 2019. Initial U-Turn runs were 10 min max pace over 3 miles. In the spring, remember him telling me he had a hard time getting over the fatigue at the 2-mile mark. Man, has he come a long way! Trained like crazy for HSHM and had a great finishing time. He’s grateful for all the supportive PAX along the way!

I’m proud to pass the turkey leg to Katniss!

Prayers: Our F3 brother struggling with addiction. Hardy (Florence’s son) has the flu, possibly spreading through family. Job (friend of Pikachu). Other spoken and unspoken.

With winter time coming up, keep eye out for PAX falling off workouts for whatever reason. Keep everyone engaged!

 

R4TJ – Gorging on Turkey with the Family

This Thanksgiving story is a true one.  The names have been changed to protect the innocent…

It’s that time of year again.  Time to be thankful, sit down with your family, make a side-dish, share a feast, and pass out on a couch to football.  You expect that Cousin Red has hosting responsibilities.  He always hosts… Out of nowhere he texts (doesn’t call) and asks me to host just the night before the big day.  I don’t have a plan, what will I make?  I realize Red has no idea who is coming or how many people I have to serve.

Frantically, I send out invitations and ask for RSVPs.  I get a few actual RSVPs – my brother Corey (big help when planning out the meal budget) and cousin Mark (you should see this guy clean-up after dinner).  Otherwise, lots of questions and comments from the peanut gallery. Stephen (always the match-maker at our get togethers) liked this picture I sent in the invitation but he’s not coming, Jaron (the cousin that think’s he’s some sort of comic book character) says he’ll send some of his high quality H2O but he isn’t coming, and my boy Olson says he has a Full House of his own to deal with…

I hope I make enough! … What if I make too much? … Do I have enough chairs? …  Who am I kidding we don’t sit at R4TJ.  Family! Am I Right?

EC: Nemo, Pikachu, UTI

My brother Andrew showed up unexpectedly.  I figured he might turn up on his way out of town but I just wasn’t sure.  As I stepped out to greet him, Chris shot by the door.  (I swear that guys moves like lightning).  The time I had set in the invitation for appetizers arrived so we got started, figured no one else would be coming.  2ish miles of EC was on the menu.  It was something I’d discovered long ago on a visit to Paradise City.  By the time we were done other guests had started to trickle in.

FNGs: Zilch – It would be nice if some of these guys had more friends to bring along to dinner.  The more the merrier I always say…

Warm Up:  Daisy Pickers, Frankensteins, Burpees (Thanks Katniss), Butt Kickers, High Knees

We got started with some light stretching.  Meals at R4TJ are no joke and you really need to stretch things out to make room.  Right as we got started, Brian tore into the driveway.  He said he’d planned on going to Jeff’s get together but put in the wrong address.  Since he was so close to my house… he just made himself at home… Oy!  We added a card table, threw a table cloth on it and let him join us.  It’s Thanksgiving after all and he brought a few cans for sides…

The Workout:

For those of us that came with an empty stomach and a hefty appetite.  YHC served a beautiful whole bird.  If you had to equate the amount of meat to a distance – I’d say it was about 5 miles of Turkey.  If you went back for more (like Chris did – More than a few times I might add – that guy can really dig in) you might get more like 10 miles out of that bird.  Truly a feast!

Guests seeking something on the lighter side opted for the neck and the dark meat.  Chad (we call him Rut – hunters like the gross stuff) was happy to deliver.  Such a long neck on this thing.  3 miles of meat (I know its strange but my family has always measured their meat in miles.)

Mary:  We didn’t invite her.  Always brings up politics at the table.  Gets Corey all bent out of shape.  She winds up drunk and things really get strange after that…  Not worth the hassle.

Announcements: Convergence tomorrow at Tiger Blood, 6AM.  Friendsgiving at M4Ls on Thursday, Frosty, Christmas Party, Oakwood 24, BRR registration opens soon, there was more and I hope its all on Slack.  With all the tryptophan and you just start getting sick of your family… It’s like Blah Blah Blah….

T-Claps (Recognition): These go to Josh and Brian – This was Kosher’s 3rd post in South Wake and he came out for 3 miles at R4TJ.  I’d say its a bit rare for our newcomers to show at R4TJ especially when running hasn’t been their thing recently.  Great work Kosher and welcome to the family.  Katniss delivered the goods, the canned goods that is!

Prayer: Mark lead us in prayer (again, strange family, prayers after the meal).  Great message from Corey about being mindful/grateful for what we have in our families.  Bring all 3Fs to your table this year.  Be great fathers, brothers, husbands, etc. as we always talk about.  Keep Quiver and family in your prayers.  Consider those

2nd F:  Once all the crazies left… Brian, Corey, Chris, Josh, and I (Jon) went over to Panera for some after-dinner coffee.

Alot to be Thankful for.. 9 PAX at AGS to Shake It Out..

Before we get into the specifics of this morning’s shakeout run workout, I’d like to reflect on a few takeaways from yesterday’s race. Yesterday morning was perfect in comparison to last year’s balmy 36 degree tundra trot.  A brisk 47 degrees yesterday morning, allowing PAX to shed some layers and nix the gloves. Minus the slight wind, I’d say the sky Q threw us a bone and created some optimal conditions for some magical runs to happen in Southwake. Rolled into the Purple Cobra AO meeting spot to clown car with Full House, 187, and Redenbacher. As we roll into Ting, we see a swerving bicycle toting several flags on its way to the basketball courts…Banana Seat in the house. Parked the car and then shortly headed to warm-ups, with about 30 PAX ready to get after it, and several more there for support every step of the way. Always amazed to see the photos after the race at how big the group photo gets year after year, and equally impressed with the new faces that come into focus year after year.

Let’s face it, this race has significance for so many reasons. We train here, we live here, we know every nook and cranny of this course and we know who we were with when we ran it. This race is significant mostly because its personal. Every PAX who has posted in SouthWake has a memory along this course and if you have been around long enough, you know the sense of community and the overwhelming sense of support when you see familiar faces along the route on race day. Not to mention, nobody puts an exclamation point on this race like F3 Southwake. Shovel Flag escort for every PAX up that ramp to the finish. There is nothing like it. Leave no man behind and the race isn’t finished until the last one is in. That’s what is special about this race. The journey we take every morning as we wake up to get those PRs isn’t easy and we push each other to accelerate in all phases. The sacrifices we make as individuals to rise out of that fartsack in the crazy morning hours and make each other better men collectively mentally, physically, and spiritually is that much more gratifying when you scroll through all of those pictures and strava feeds after the race.

A huge shout out to our non-running PAX for the support yesterday. All were strategically placed throughout the critical areas of the course offering encouragement, positive energy, and a few choice phrases to entice jailbreak speed up the ramp to the finish. Banana Seat, Slide Rule, Blue Hen, Flannigan, Dovetail, Skidmark, Shredder, Gump, Dauber, Wallaby, and WebEx. I’m fairly certain I may be missing a few, and for those that YHC may be missing, you are appreciated by everyone running yesterday.

The PRs yesterday were aplenty. Safe to say the training paid off and then some. If I were to create awards from yesterday, they would be as follows:

Best Comedic Duo Performance: LipStick and Mrs. LipStick- First congratulations to Mrs. Lipstick. She did an incredible job finishing I believe her first half and also doing it while going 13.1 with LipStick selfie sticking most of the way. Anyone see the FB video? TV gold right there. At many points while I thumbed through the pics, it appeared that she wanted to throttle my boy, Lipstick, but great job again to his M for pushing through. Lipstick, love you buddy.. great support out there.

Most Improved: UTI is absolutely crushing it. 6 Halfs under his belt and the times keep shrinking like the average number of exercises Midget performs during workouts.

WOW Award: True to his name, ShamWow just absolutely killed it yesterday. Knew going in he’d have a good run with the training he put in, but dear lord, I think he may have set the bar to a whole new level with his performance yesterday.

Dig Deep Award: Wasn’t able to witness this finish, but heard Breach tracked down the 2:00 pace group with about a mile left to finish with a sub 2. Way to push.

HSHM Rookie of Year: Aquaman not only went sub 2 in his first half, but he flirted with a sub 1:50. Though his body may have broken down a bit at the end, he put in a very gutsy run and has grown exponentially this past year. One to watch next year for sure.

Iron Horse Award: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when I reach 50, I want to be like Yogurt. This guy is an absolute Beast. A podium performance yesterday with Alpine pacing his run. This guy is a grinder and as mentally tough as he is physically. Incredible run yesterday.

Excellence of Execution Award: If you were a WWF fan from back in the day, Brett Hart dubbed himself as “The Excellence of Execution.” Very methodical and executed moves with precision and efficiency. Here’s the thing about 187 that I love. He is about as efficient as they come. Shows up, puts in work, and then you later look at the Strava feed and think… “Oh, Damn. No he didn’t..” It probably takes YHC longer to pick up his jaw from the floor after seeing some of these runs than it is for 187 to run these races. Another podium performance in his age group. Incredible.

Youth Gone Wild Award: Remember that guy, Cupid? He started posting here and there when he started F3. Then we wondered what the hell is he doing running all hours of the day. Started running with Pikachu before and after Run the Quay at about a 9min pace. Well, I want to introduce you to 7:45/mi for 13.1 pace Cupid.

Under the Radar Awards: Who is this Katniss guy? I thought he didn’t like running or think he could run earlier this year. Amazing sub 2 performance yesterday. Silently, he has accelerated and another one to keep an eye on at his next half. There is also that other guy, Dahmer, who has silently put in some strong work on these HSHM runs to also get himself a sub 2 finish.

Don’t Call it a Come Back Award: Though the training hasn’t been perfect from week to week, Forceps has made his way back to healthy runs in recent weeks, finishing very strong up the ramp yesterday. I anticipate we will get him back to full speed in the upcoming months.

Double Down Award: Full House, I’m not sure what you were thinking putting back to back halfs on your calendar this month, but I’m sure glad you were out there yesterday. Coming off of a strong sub 2 Richmond Half and putting in some strong miles at HSHM yesterday. I appreciated the push at miles 10 and 11 to keep me going.

Mumblechatter I Wish I Was a Part of Award: Only saw the trio of Emeril, Dawgpound, and Cowboy finish the race, but after hearing about a few conversations they had during the race, I so wish it would have been recorded for prosperity purposes. Hearing how Emeril was ‘inspiring’ Dawg and Cowboy throughout the race makes me think we should somehow do a documentary next year.

Houdini Awards: Unfortunately, I didn’t see them prior to the race, but H1N1, Fonzie, and LED absolutely smoked it yesterday. Very strong training performed by those guys leading up to the race and it all paid off yesterday.

2020 HSHM Headlock Award: Fresh off a Solid 5k performance yesterday, Master Shake has HC’d on next year’s Half Marathon.

That Shower is Gonna Hurt Award: Last but not least, Redenbacher not only PR’d yesterday by over double-digit minutes, he did so with exploding nipples. I didn’t see how bad it was until the hairpin turn as he was passing me. His shirt looked like a crime scene and made me want to place a smiley face beneath the 2 red circles across his chest. All in all a strong run for him yesterday as well.

To round out yesterday’s race, I also wanted to give a big shout out to M4L, Pikachu, and Snap. Looks like 3Alarm had a great race as well and was made possible by y’all helping him navigate the course. Additional kudos to Nemo, Boy George, Lipsync, and Coal Ash for solid 2:15 , 2:30, 2:45 pacing.

One other thing…I’m proposing now that we make Freddy’s the official post HSHM race venue. If anyone has yet to experience the triple steakburger and fries, you ain’t living your best life. Yogurt, UTI, Aquaman, Bullseye, M4L, and Redenbacher can all attest that a 2nd F at Freddy’s is where its at for the perfect grease bomb to complement your PR. Heck, we should book Crosby and Bender Street now to play at this cathedral of burger heaven.

With all the great things that happened yesterday, I figured it would be a good idea for a shakeout run this morning with some much needed stretching. 9 PAX showed, most of which had run yesterday.

Warm Up: Light jog around the soccer fields to the back Ivan lot. Circled up for Good Mornings, Daisy Pickers, Michael Phelps, Prison Squats X10. Lunge Walks and Frankensteins to the far side of the lot. Hillbillies and Moroccan Night Clubs X12. Squat hold while YHC explained the route.
The Workout: A light 2-3 mi run up Stinson to Raleigh, Left on Rogers, right down Main Street. Right on Main St. back to Raleigh St. and back to the flag for Stretch O’ Rama.

Mary: Stretch O’Rama with each of the 9 PAX calling out a stretch exercise for a 10 count. With Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday, we then executed a plank o’rama, while PAX shared what they were thankful for this year and as we approach the upcoming year. And yes.. as Redenbacher was present, plank o’rama did include some “Nipplers.”

Announcements: CSAUP- Dec 7th, Holiday Party- Dec 14th, Wrightsville is just around the corner. 2nd F at Dunkins post-AGS.
T-Claps (Recognition): Outstanding job by PAX all week up to and including the race.
Prayer: Continued prayers for Quiver and his family, Crab Legs, and those still on the mend. Safe travels for all those travel this week for the holiday.

Always and honor to lead. What a day yesterday, not only for F3 SouthWake, but for the community to see once again what what we are all about.

Lipstick Delegation Tour Day 5

EC: Lucky Charms, Skidmark, Pikachu, Banana Seat, Yosemite, YHC, Slide Rule
Warm Up: Lap around lot to loosen up the legs.

SSH x100 I mean what else would we start with?

Imperial Walkers x15

Delegation Tour continued at Crazy Ivan. YHC called out on the slack that we would be doing some Yoga, I believe the message was taken as a joke. At least 15 HIM’s showed up with bells in hand. YHC quickly sidelined Banana Seat and said “This is going to be a real delegation” YHC may have planted the seed on delegation the previous 4 days 🙂
The Workout: PAX split up for a Banana Seat Kettle Bell Beatdown (you had to be there to know what took place) and a Sarah Beth Yoga Session
Mary: Plank hold for final 4 minutes with various plank positions, including Pickle Pounders x25
Announcements: Check the Web
T-Claps (Recognition): Yosemite for completing his first Fritter. Banana Seat for the Lipstick Fritter and truly taking on the delegation Q!
Prayer: Quiver’s Family, Crab Legs, All those running HSHM tomorrow

*Dumbo and Slide Rule went out for a 4.5 mile run, as they didn’t think a real kettle bell workout would happen.

Thanks for coming to the Party!

EC: 187

FNGs: The party was open to all men but only FHIGs showed (Friendly High Impact Guys)

Invites were sent but based on RSVPs it was hard to tell who to expect at the party.

YHC got to the party a little early to double-check the venue before the guests arrived.  A quick spin around the back lot to confirm that all of the standard party fare was in place.  The bounce house was not there and that was OK.  HSHM is just 2 days away and the jumping wouldn’t sit right for some of the runner-types…  You know who I’m talking about…  “Did you get a race shirt yet?”  “Are you running a half-marathon this weekend too?”  “Do you even run bro?”  “Yeah… I ran a full last weekend, I’m gonna Q all week, do a Fritter, not show up to your birthday Q, and run the HSHM this weekend”  (I <3 you team FML, I’m just playing to the crowd – except you Lipstick, that last one was real)

Oh… HEY…  Sorry… Yeah let me get back to talking about this manly workout thing we did today.

12 men gathered in the lot, the clock moved over to 5:30 – Welcome to the Party!

Warm Up:  Like any good party you start out with something light.  Allow people to mingle and have a little small talk.  We circled up in that front lot and tackled these party snacks.

  • 12x Windmills
  • 12x Daisy Pickers
  • 12x Frankensteins = 36
  • Fozio Arm Circles (36)
    • 18 Forward
    • 18 Back

Now that the pleasantries were out of the way, we moved the party to the back of the house.  Tiger Blood has some room to move around so we needed a little mozy to get there.  Nothing too strong

Party games are essential for keeping your guests entertained…

The Workout:  Party Games!!!

  • finish the MOZY back wall of the school
  • Balls to the Wall Elimination (Blowing Out the Candles)
    • We held our balls to the wall until we just couldn’t anymore.
    • If you fell, you called a Plank-o-rama move for those not still on the wall
    • 187 beat out the birthday boy for the win (his invite will be revoked for next year)
  • MOZY to lot by the football field
  • Curb Alert
    • Line up on the curb and climb up and back down, then do a Merkin (1:4 until 9:36)
  • Captain Thor
    • On your 6, WWII / American Hammers (1:4 until 9:36)
  • MOZY to the bleachers by the football field
  • 12 Erkins /12 Derkins /12 Dips – 36
  • Repeato – 12 Erkins /12 Derkins /12 Dips – 36
  • MOZY back to lot by the football field
  • Overhead arm stretches and Michael Phelps
  • Jack Webbs
    • Merkin / Air Presses (1:4 until 9:36)
  • MOZY to front lot
  • Superman (Ws, Ts, Ys) – 12 each OR 36
  • MOZY to driveway between the schools
  • Flat Tires
    • To the metal poles jutting out of the ground with the arms that stop cars.  AKA the gate
    • Wheelbarrow “steps” / Merkins  (4:1 until 36:9 or until we hit the gate)
    • Partner exchange as needed
  • MOZY to the Jungle Gym behind the school
  • Partner 1 – 4 Pull-ups / Partner 2 – Continuous LBCs until switch  (36 Pull-ups before you’re done? – we might have done it)
  • MOZY to the front lot for Mary

Mary:

  • Pickle Pounders (36)
  • Homer to Marge (36)

Party is over – everyone go home!!!  Good luck washing your hair today!

Announcements:

  • HSHM this Saturday
  • Frosty

T-Claps (Recognition):  Post workout, BackBlast T-Clap…  ShamWow! leading the HSHM training agenda.  Aquaman representing South Wake as a poster boy for the race – Beyond that continuing their leadership role by leading the warm-up and making sure the shirts land in hands in support of Skidmark.   Skidmark who is not running the race but coordinated the shirts, will be volunteering and probably running his fellow #HIM up the ramp.

Prayer:

  • Thoughts with Quiver and his clan
  • Safety as we approach Thanksgiving week and travel
  • Open arms and mind towards those that may be feeling the holiday depression.  Let those in your circles or outside know you are there and you are thinking of them.

2nd F after Tiger Blood – M4L showed up after Disney and gave me a cake pop!

Thanks for the coffee and the fellowship guys

Fancy Feast made a random appearance to buy biscuits, Lipstick didn’t show up…  🙁

Left turn Clyde

 

 

 

 

 

FNGs: Not today

Warm Up: 10 x SSH and 10 x Daisy Pickers in cadence. Discussed the routes and headed out.

The Workout: The 3 mile group ran an out and back from Ting to Main Street. The rest of the group continued past Main Street to finish the Little Dipper route….except Boogie and Iceman. They missed the turn at Stinson and YHC was the 6 but unable to get their attention as they continued down Grisby.  I dropped the ball and am sorry for not keeping you guys on the route.

Mary:   🙁

Announcements: Holly Springs Half Marathon/5k this weekend, CSAUP Dec 7, and Christmas Party Dec 14. Check Slack and FB for details.

T-Claps (Recognition): Boogie and Iceman for making it back to the gloom.

Prayer: Slide Rule and his family in the last month of pregnancy, Master Shake and his family, Quiver and his family, PAX running this weekend

Solid work this morning men.

YHC took us out. Always an honor to lead.

Lipstick Delegation Tour Day 2

EC: Moby, Blue Hen, Flannigan, Brony, Alpine
Warm Up: Mosey around the lot and back to the side lot

SSH x50

Daisy Pickers x15

FAC x15 fwd & rev

Overhead Claps x15

Seal Claps x15

Pax was informed about Delegation week and YHC delegated 20min to Pikachu -Not my best idea 🙂
The Workout:

Mosey to the brick pile, which is now located in the woods behind the track

Bear Crawl Jack Web Hallelujah’s 1:3 ratio and we made it to 5 with the bricks in our hands for bear crawl/crawl bear and Hallelujah’s and the Merkins….

Mosey to the Playground and pair up. Partner 1 Pull Ups x10, Partner 2 People’s Chair with Bricks on legs. Repeat 2x

BTW x25 with Bricks in hands

YHC took back over and we mosey the bricks back to the woods

Mosey to straightaway on side of building for Stack-em Up Peeping Lipsticks . Picked out 5 locations before the gate and did 2x Peeping Lipstick increments until x10 at the gate. Round 2 we swapped Peeping Lipstick’s for Merkins. Thanks to Slide Rule for completing round 1 first and allowing the PAX to do merkins instead of Peeping Lipstick’s for round 2.

Chill Cut for six and Pickle Pounders x20

Mary: Low Slow Flutters x20, American Hammers x20, LBC’s x44
Announcements: Frosty Dec. 7 Shirt orders by 11/20 Tomorrow!
T-Claps (Recognition):
Prayer: Quiver’s Family, Pax running this weekend

Lipstick Delegation Tour Day 1

EC: Papa Emeril, Slide Rule, UTI, Dawgpound, Cowboy, 187, Axe
Warm Up: Mosey around the lot and circle up on BBall courts.

SSH x50

IW x15

Hil x15

Plank position: Hand Release Merkins x10

Mountain Climbers x10

At this point YHC informed the Pax that it was delegation week. YHC would be Qing 5 straight days and delegating a 20min portion of the workout to a PAX member.  Day 1 UTI was choosen
The Workout:

Mosey to the rock pile and bring a rock back to the BBall courts.

On your six and air press x20

American Hammers x20

Overhead Press x20

Repeat x2

Then UTI delgated his delegated portion to Dawgpound for Rock sings. YHC had enough when Sir Dawg got up to 44 count and took the Q back over.  Rocks returned

Mosey to the bottom of the ramp and split in two groups.

Group 1: Run to staircase and go up and down 3x with Star Jumps x10 at the bottom and run back

Group 2: Hand Release Merkins x10, Merkins x10, Childs Pose for 10 seconds (Q was a little sore from the weekend) Diamond Merkins x10 Repeato until Group 1 came back.

Group 1/2 switch and repeat x2
Mary: Low Slow Flutters x20, LBC x20, Box Cutters x20
Announcements: Frosty December 7. Shirt Orders by 11/20
T-Claps (Recognition): UTI for picking up the Co-Q in the moment (wink, wink)
Prayer: Quiver’s Family, Pax running this weekend

Enjoyed it, See you at the Nut

Celebration of CFP!

Since August, YHC has been putting in 20-30 hours a week studying for my Certified Professional Planning exam.  Thankfully, yesterday I successfully passed.  That means today’s workout was a celebration of studying and finally passing!

No FNG and Da Business looked cold, so we got started a few seconds early.

FNGs: Nope
Warm Up: Quick lap around the lot, SSH, Mountain Climbers to the get the blood flowing
The Workout:

At First, Studying Seems Insurmountable: Bear crawl the length of the lot to remember that even large tasks can be taken down one step at a time

Studying Is Lonely: Long days and nights with just a book.  Partner carry around the lot to remember life is better as a shared endeavor

Sometimes it’s one step forward, two steps back: Wheelbarrow suicides on the painted lines, with increasing merkins (1 line; 1 merkin; backwards; 2 lines; 2 merkins; backwards) up to 5 lines / 5 merkins.  This sucked, don’t do this

Feels like going in a circle: I was informed Da Business doesn’t like the non-PC-named “Indian Run”.  So we Warren Walked to the track for modified Bombs.  5 burpees, 10 merkins, 15 squats, 20 WWII, adding an exercise at each corner.  Repeat in reverse (running and counting backwards)

And sometimes it’s like standing still: Head to the playground for chin-up holds while the other group does Merkin / WWII / Blue Devil Timers

But it’s all fun and games when it’s over: Warren Walk to the overhang, then “Floor is Lava” bunny hop on the Tiger Paws to the end

Mary: Random assortment of fun, ending with the Russian Twist Trump Truth

Announcements: Frosty CSAUP, #2ndF at Whole Foods after work today, #2f2f at Drive Shack tomorrow, Christmas Party at Peak Week Midget’s House

T-Claps (Recognition): Thanks for coming out.  That was a fun one.  Blue Hen made his first appearance this month, and he was glad he did
Prayer: BABIES! (Pigpen / Warbucks / YHC)

Double Feature, Double D Birthday, and a Double Dose of Fellowship @ Dunkin

Lots of miles in SouthWake again this week as many PAX are locked in with focus on the HSHM, while some are also tapering headed into this week’s Richmond Full. YHC got a mid-morning message from Pikachu on Saturday, looking to co-Q a 3mi option with some Yoga and asked if we could include that in the pre-blast. With that, a double main event was in play, along with some EC and 6-mi run.

With the extra hour of sleep, surely there would be new faces showing for Sunday’s installment of AGS. This morning managed to bring out a few…

Arrived to Womble about 9 minutes late for the 4mi EC that started at 5:10am. UTI was already in the lot staying warm inside the confines of his Corolla. Pulled in, planted the flag, gave a quick apology for my tardiness and then we were off. Headed up Stinson, then on to Grigsby following the HSHM greenway to the back of the new development and then back up the other side of the neighborhood near Sugg before heading back to Womble. Exchanged some great mumblechatter with UTI on a wide array of topics. As we arrived back to Womble, I lost feeling in my thumbs and instead of stretching, quickly reached for my gloves that I left in the car. Quickly began resuscitating my thumbs by breathing life into my knuckles. Damn it was cold this morning… A balmy 37 degrees.

Paced a bit back and forth and like clockwork in the lot, while Master Shake rolls in and then immediately followed by Pikachu. At that point, a rare Slide Rule appearance starts to take shape. Then Oboe and hey wait a minute…Coal Ash? Quiver got the memo on the 3mi and yoga and decided to join the party. Finally, DoubleD rolls in to start his birthday off right with a run and some fellowship.

6am hit and we were off around the soccer fields for the following warm up.

FNGs: None

Warm Up: Led PAX to the back Ivan lot to circle up for sets of 12 of the following exercises: SSH, Prison Squats, Good Mornings. YHC’s cadence count was a bit quick this morning, likely the result of the cold weather. Butt kickers to the curb, where we switched to Frankensteins to the end.

Circled up one last time for Fazio Arms 12F\12B. Led PAX back to the flag with a squat hold, while explaining the route.

The Workout: For the 6mi run, PAX took Stinson to Holly Springs Road and then onto Jones Park, through Veterans, and then out to the neighborhood that is on the EC route for Paradise City. YHC instructed PAX that when they entered the neighborhood, we’d take a sharp right along the power lines and then circle around to the side street-Arctic Ridge Way they use as part of the Half Marathon route, and proceed back put to the greenway onto Veterans and Jones. When we made it out of Veterans and onto Jones, PAX took the new side path up to Rhamkhatte. When we conquered Rhamkhatte, we then proceeded down Bass Lake and a right onto Stinson before meeting back up at the parking lot.  Pikachu and Quiver joined us for the first 1.5 miles and then headed back to get about 25 minutes of Yoga. Strong runs by all PAX with frequent circle backs to pick up the 6. As we arrived onto Stinson, YHC mentioned to Coal Ash if he remembered the time before Deadbolt had a boat and ran regularly on Sundays, but specifically the time he pulled both of us up Bass Lake at AGS and then decided to incite a jail break up Stinson to the lot.

He says, “yeah- I remember that,” just as he eyes UTI, Slide Rule, and Double D about 100 yards ahead. He then says, “You think we can catch them?” To which I knew I had a little left in the tank, but probably not enough to go full blast. After about 70 yards, YHC died off but kept an 8:45 pace up the hill, but saw Coal Ash get after it and before I knew it, he was running along side of those gazelles. He caught em, and upon later Strava review had me PR’ing that segment. Always get a great push from Coal Ash, especially up the hills. Coal Ash then circled back one final time to pick up Master Shake.

Now knowing what I know from last week, Master Shake found another gear I hadn’t seen before. Almost as if someone clicked another speed on his blender setting for the last 1/2-1/4 mi. Today, YHC knew enough that he wanted to see someone else chase him down at the end, so I stopped my morning run at the lot. After exchanging a few fist bumps with Oboe, UTI and Pikachu, I see Slide Rule, Coal Ash and Master Shake jockeying in for the last strides of their run, with Master Shake having a Glengarry Glen Ross moment…This dude is closing and getting stronger week in and week out.
Mary: May have taken our great group birthday pic with DoubleD. Didn’t catch her name so not sure.
Announcements: CSAUP-Frosty Dec 7th
T-Claps (Recognition): All PAX getting miles this morning with the time change.
Prayer: Prayers for M’s who are expecting, those PAX with new infants. Continued health to those PAX training for races. Prayers for Slide Rule and his upcoming exam on Wednesday. Another year older and another year younger\stronger, special prayers for a great year ahead for DoubleD. Happy Birthday! #respect.

2nd F at Dunkin. Good mumblechatter. Slide Rule enjoyed a fritter. Thanks for the coffee, UTI!